My Unique Adaptation Skill in Another world-Chapter 31 - 30: Blood & Chaos

The first attacker died before Leo even registered the movement.

Iori’s blade simply appeared in the man’s throat. No wasted motion. No hesitation. One moment he was charging, weapon raised. The next, he was falling, blood spraying across the arena floor, his weapon falling into Iori’s hand.

She’d barely moved.

This was the skill of someone at eight stars.

Leo had seen Iori fight before, had trained with her, but this was different. This was her unleashed. No holding back, just killing.

Pure, efficient, and terrifying.

Two more attackers came at her from different angles.

She flowed between them like water, sword singing through air. Both men dropped, one missing an arm, the other clutching his opened stomach.

Leo started to move forward.

"STAY BACK!" Iori snapped without looking at him. "You’re not ready for this!"

The words stung, but she was right.

More attackers were coming. Four of them, spreading out, coordinating professionally.

Daichi appeared at Iori’s left flank, blade already drawn, a weapon he definitely hadn’t been carrying when they entered. The arena’s security had been thorough. Magical detection, and physical searches.

So where had the blade come from?

Leo filed the question away. Daichi had either hidden it impossibly well like he did with the beads... or someone had given it to him inside.

Takeshi picked up a sword from one of the bodies on the floor moved to the right, grinning despite the chaos, or maybe because of it. "Finally! Some real action!"

"Focus!" Daichi’s voice was sharp.

The attackers hit them like a coordinated strike team.

Iori met two head-on. Her blades moved faster than Leo could track. Blood and bodies, she made it look easy.

Daichi engaged one with calm efficiency, and precise strikes. His opponent was skilled, Leo could see that even from here, but Daichi matched him blow for blow.

Takeshi fought the fourth with aggressive fury, his strength a full star above his opponent. He was showing off, making it flashy. It was dangerous, but effective.

Akane and Yuki stayed in defensive positions, picking up their own weapons, protecting the group’s rear.

Leo stood there, useless, watching people stronger than him fight for their lives.

Then one of the attackers broke through.

Must have been waiting for an opening. Must have been watching for the weakest target.

He came at Leo low and fast, dagger leading.

Five-star, maybe low six, strong enough that Leo’s four-star aura felt pathetic in comparison.

But Leo was already moving.

Defiance and Resolve materialized in his hands from the beads.

The attacker’s dagger came for his throat.

Leo twisted, bringing Defiance up to deflect. The weight manipulation kicked in, the sword felt light in his hands but hit with the force of about two hundred kilograms.

The clash sent the attacker stumbling back, surprised.

Leo didn’t give him time to recover. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Resolve came in from the side.

The attacker tried to dodge. Almost made it.

Almost.

Resolve caught his arm, not deep, but enough.

The blood drain activated, just a quiet pull as life energy flowed from the wound into Leo’s blade.

The attacker’s eyes widened, he felt it, his strength draining with every heartbeat.

Leo pressed the advantage, another cut, another drain. Each one stacking, compounding.

The man tried to disengage, but Leo stayed close. Defiance and Resolve working together. Heavy impacts and bleeding cuts.

Thirty seconds. That’s all it took.

The attacker collapsed, too weak to stand, blood loss and energy drain combining.

Leo stood over him, breathing hard.

First real fight since the mana zone, first time using his swords in actual combat against a trained opponent.

He’d won. Barely.

Around him, the others were finishing their fights. Bodies on the ground, blood pooling. The immediate threat had been neutralized.

But it wasn’t over.

---

Leo looked out across the arena and felt his stomach drop.

They weren’t the only delegation under attack.

The western stands, where the elven section had been, were in ruins. Stone and bodies and fire. Survivors were crawling from the rubble, he could see elven mages creating barriers, trying to shield the wounded. Some were fighting back, their magic lighting up the smoke-filled air.

The dwarven section was under attack but the dwarves were fighters by nature. They’d formed a shield wall, axes and hammers meeting the attackers with brutal efficiency. Holding their ground.

The human noble sections were chaos. Guards trying to protect their lords, some succeeding. Bodies in expensive clothes sprawled across blood-stained seats.

The beastkin delegation was scattered, fighting in small groups, others fleeing toward the exits.

Everywhere Leo looked: violence, death, panic.

The attackers wore no insignia, no markings, nothing to identify which faction they served or what they wanted.

Imperial guards were finally mobilizing, pushing through the panicked crowd, but they were slow, and not very organized. The attack had caught them completely unprepared.

Above, in the Imperial Box, Leo saw guards hustling someone away. The Emperor was being evacuated.

The exits were jammed with civilians trying to escape. People crushing each other. Trampling those who fell.

The death toll was rising with every second.

"We can’t stay here." Iori’s voice cut through his thoughts. She was breathing harder than usual, but still composed. "We’re too exposed."

She looked at Leo. Really looked at him.

"Can you fight?"

Every muscle in Leo’s body ached, his arms felt heavy. The brief fight had drained more than he wanted to admit.

"Yes," he lied.

Iori’s eyes narrowed slightly, she knew, but she didn’t call him on it.

"Then stay close. We’re getting out of here."

"We should help the others!" Takeshi gestured toward the elven section. "They’re—"

"Our duty is to our House first." Iori’s tone left no room for argument. "We move, now."

It was cold, pragmatic. Takeshi looked like he wanted to protest, but Daichi put a hand on his shoulder. A silent warning.

"Formation," Iori commanded. "I’ll take point. Daichi, rear guard. Everyone else between us, Leo, stay near me."

They began moving toward the nearest exit, fighting through the chaos.

Iori led, cutting down anyone who got in their way.

They were halfway to the exit when Leo saw the elf.

The academy section. Partially collapsed from one of the explosions. Students scattered, some helping wounded, some trying to escape.

And the elf was in the middle of it.

Her black hair was disheveled, her dress torn. She was kneeling next to a wounded student, hands glowing faintly green. Healing magic. Prana.

She looked terrified but determined.

And she was completely focused on the wounded. Didn’t see the two cloaked figures approaching her position from behind with weapons drawn.

Leo’s group was moving away from her, toward the exit.

If Leo went to her, he’d be leaving safety, and risk dying, the smart choice would be to stay in the group Leo thought, but he couldn’t just turn a blind eye.

Leo changed direction.

"Leo!" Iori’s voice. Sharp, commanding. "Where are you going?!"

He looked back, just for a second.

"Someone I know is in trouble!"

"We can’t save everyone!" Frustration and fear mixed in her eyes.

"I have to try!"

Before she could grab him, Leo ran into the chaos, toward the academy section.

Behind him, he heard Iori curse very creatively and angrily

Then: "Daichi! Go with him! Keep that idiot alive!"

Leo heard Footsteps, heavy, keeping pace.

Daichi had broken formation, and was following.

But Leo only focused on getting to the elf as fast as he could.